Encyclopedia suggests that this case supports the view that the confessional is privileged. Ruthven v. De Bonn The Catholic Encyclopedia reports the case Ruthven v. De Bonn, tried before Mr. Justice Ridley and a jury in 1901. Alternative views of the law The Catholic Encyclopedia contends that the current view of the law is based on R. v. Gilham (supra) but contends that the decision has been misconstrued. The encyclopedia goes on to identify some alternative views. In an anonymous case reported in Skinner's Reports, 404, in 1693, Lord Chief Justice John Holt said that the privilege would extend to a law scrivener, because he would be counsel to a man with whom he would advise. But he is reported to have added "otherwise of a Gentleman, Parson etc." Edward Badeley maintains that Lord Holt did not mean this last assertion to be general and exclusive. This may conceivably be so. It is recorded in another anonymous case, which we find in Lord Raymond's "Reports", 733, that the same judge refused to admit the evidence of a person entrusted by both the parties to the cause to make and keep secret a bargain. He added that "[by him] a trustee should not be a witness in order to betray the trust". But the last decision cannot be said to be in agreement with the law of evidence as generally laid down. In the case of Wilson v. Rastall, as in some other cases, the indication of a potentiality of an expansion of this side of the law of evidence. "I have always understood", Lord Kenyon said, giving judgment, "that the privilege of a client only extends to the case of the attorney for him. Though whether or not it ought to be extended farther, I am happy to think may be inquired into in this cause." He meant that the matter would not be definitely concluded as an appeal would be possible. In William Mawdesley Best's work on The Principles of the Law of Evidence there is, not only an expression of opinion that the privilege should be accorded, but one to the effect that there is ground for holding that the right to the privilege is existent. See also Seal of the Confessional and the Anglican Church Public Interest Immunity Notes Bibliography Lord Mackay of Clashfern (ed.) (2002) Halsbury's Laws of England, 4th ed., Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedure,